West Cook News

Village of Franklin Park President and Board of Trustees met Feb. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

II. CALL TO ORDER: Village President Pedersen called to order the Board of Trustees of the Village of Franklin Park in special session at 7:00 p.m. 

III. ROLL CALL; ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM Village Clerk April J Arellano called the roll: 

Present at Board Meeting: Barrett F. Pedersen (Village President) and April J Arellano (Village Clerk), Joseph Montana (Village Attorney) 

Trustees (Present in the Room): Mr. Ruhl, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Special, Ms. Avitia, Mr. Ybarra and Mr. Hagerstrom 

Department Heads: 

Mark Stewart (Fire Department Chief) 

Mike Witz (Director of Police) 

Frank Griesshamer (Treasurer) 

Dave Gonzalez (Village Comptroller) 

Joe Thomas (Utilities Commissioner) 

Dan Corcoran (IT Director) 

Lisa Anthony (Health and Human Resources) 

Rudy Repa (Village Planner) 

Ryan Adriatico (Village Planner) 

Nick Weber (Deputy Utilities Commissioner) 

Lisa Manzo (Deputy Building Director) 

Joe Webster (Project Engineer) 

Mike Vonesh (Code Enforcement Officer) 

The Village Clerk declared a quorum was present. 

Village Clerk Arellano administered the oath of office to Melissa Figueroa as Franklin Park Police Officer 

PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limit to 2 minutes per speaker, Ordinance 1415- G-43) 

1. NONE 

VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS 

1. FINANCE AND SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEES (Mr. Johnson, Chair) 

1. MR. JOHNSON STATED DAVID GONZALEZ, VILLAGE COMPTROLLER WILL BE GOING OVER NOVEMBER 2023 FINANCIALS DURING STAFF REPORTS 

2. MR. JOHNSON ANNOUNCED THE FIRST MEETING FOR THE FRANKLIN PARK FEST WAS HELD. THE FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 06 THROUGH JUNE 09. MURRARY PRESENTED HIS ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP AND HE IS RECOMMENDING AMERICAN ENGLISH TO PLAY ON SUNDAY FROM 2PM TO 3PM. THE MEETING WILL BE ON MARCH 04, 2024 

2. WATER AND SEWER/FLEET MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE (Ms. Avitia, Chair) 

1. MS. AVITIA REPORTED 5 WATER MAIN BREAKS, 8 SEWER BACK UPS 

2. MS. AVITIA REPORTED STAFF REPAIRED 2 SECTIONS OF 30" STORM SEWER AT 11230 ADDISON STREET 

3. MS. AVITIA REPORTED CREWS HAD TO DO A WATER SHUT DOWN AT 10017 PACIFIC DUE TO A PIPE BREAKING AFTER BEING FROZEN 

4. MS. AVITIA REPORTED CREWS REPAIRED SINK HOLE IN STREET AT SARAH AND GRAND AVENUE 

5. MS. AVITIA REPORTED SEWER BAD SPOTS CHECKED AROUND TOWN ON 01/25/24 NO NEW ISSUES 

6. MS. AVITIA REPORTED STAFF HAD TO JET 740 FEET OF SEWER ON THE 3600 BLOCK OF ROSE AND WAVELAND 

7. MS. AVITIA REPORTED STAFF JETTED 250 FEET AT JUNCTION PARK TO FREE UP SEWER THAT DRAINS BACK YARDS IN THAT AREA OF TOWN 

8. MS. AVITIA REPORTED THE VACTOR 211 HAS BEEN ON THE STREET 7 DAYS ASSISTING WITH MAIN BREAKS AND BACKED UP SEWERS 

9. MS. AVITIA REPORTED THERE ARE 7 ADDRESSES FOR LEAD SERVICE REPLACEMENT DUE TO DISRUPTION OF THE LEAD SERVICE. ALL THESE SERVICES ARE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE MAY 2024 

3. POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE (Mr. Ruhl, Chair) 

1. MR. RUHL REPORTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 2,980 CALLS FOR SERVICE, ISSUED 724 PARKING CITATIONS, ISSUED 19 LOCAL CITATIONS, ISSUED 225 STATE CITATIONS, MADE 50 ARRESTS, CONDUCTED 650 TRAFFIC/PEDESTRIAN STOPS 

2. MR. RUHL REPORTED FIRE DEPARTMENT IS DOWN 4 FIRE FIGHTERS/PARAMEDICS AND RESPONDED TO 428 FOR AMD EMS CALLS 

4. STREETS, ALLEYS AND FLEET MAINTENANCE (Mr. Ybarra, Chair) 

1. MR. YBARRA REPORTED 2 TRUCKS WERE SENT OUT FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS, AND 1 TRUCK WENT IN FOR REPAIRS 

2. MR. YBARRA REPORTED POTHOLE PATCHING STARTED IN ALL SECTIONS OF TOWN 

3. MR. YBARRA REPORTED 11 SIGNS WERE INSTALLED 

4. MR. YBARRA REPORTED BRANCHES WERE PICKED UP FROM PARKWAY TREES AND ANY REMAINING CHRISTMAS TREES 

5. MR. YBARRA REPORTED ALL MAIN STREETS WERE SWEPT 

5. PROPERTY, PLANNING, ZONING, BUILDING, AND TREE PRESERVATION COMMISSION 

(Ms. Special, Chair) 

1. ON BEHALF OF THE TREE PRESERVATION COMMISSION, MS. SPECIAL REPORTED SUSTAINABILITY, FORESTRY, PARKWAYS AND FACILITIES DIRECTOR ANDY SMOLEN, MS. SPECIAL REPORTED THERE ARE 22 REQUESTS FOR TREE PLANTING FOR SPRING 2024. 

2. MS. SPECIAL REPORTED DIRECTOR ANDY SMOLEN IS PREPARING FOR A MEETING ON FEBRUARY 14TH WITH DIGITAL REALITY TO REMOVE THE PARKWAY CEMENT ON THE WESTSIDE OF THE DIGITAL CENTER. THIS CEMENT WAS IN PLACE FOR THE OLD MOTOROLA FACILITY AND IS NO LONGER NEEDED. TREES AND PLANTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE PLANTED ON THE PARKWAY 

3. MS. SPECIAL REPORTED THAT STAFF WENT OUT LAST WEEK TO SURVEY THE AREA FROM GRAND AVENUE NORTH TO JAMES STREET AND FROM MANNHEIM ROAD WEST TO CULLERTON AVENUE FOR TREE PLANTING. THIS AREA WAS CHOSEN FOR APPLICATION ON THE FEDERAL IRA GRANT FUNDING. STAFF FOUND POTENTIALLY 135 TREE PLANTING LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THIS AREA. DIRECTOR ANDY SMOLEN WILL WALK THE AREA WITH A TREE BOARD VOLUNTEER TO FIND THE CORRECT NUMBER OF PLANTING LOCATIONS 

4. MS. SPECIAL REPORTED MORTON ARBORETUM WILL BE DONATING TREES TO BE PLANTED IN FRANKLIN PARK. 45 TREES WERE OFFERED AND THE INDUSTRIAL AREA ALONG CULLERTON AVENUE WAS CHOSEN DUE TO THE LACK OF GREEN SPACE 

5. ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MS. SPECIAL REPORTED VILLAGE STAFF AND THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENCY FOR PLANNING HELD THE FIRST COMMUNITY EVENT ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24 AS PART OF THE GRAND AVENUE CORRIDOR PLAN. COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN AN EVENING OF ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSION AROUND THE FUTURE OF GRAND AVENUE, EXISTING CONDITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT. PLEASE VISIT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEBPAGE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GRAND AVENUE CORRIDOR PLAN 

6. MS. SPECIAL REPORTED THAT ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 30TH, STAFF PARTICIPATED IN THE COOK COUNTY CLIMATE RESILIENCY WORKSHOP HOSTED HERE AT THE FRANKLIN PARK POLICE STATION. SEVERAL VILLAGE STAFF ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR AND METRO STRATEGIES GROUP DISCUSSED CLIMATE RISKS, CONCERNS, AND SOLUTIONS SURROUNDING THE TOPICS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, AIR QUALITY, TREE CANOPIES, AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. THIS MEETING WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A NEW CLIMATE RESILIENCY PLAN 

7. ON BEHALF OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, MS. SPECIAL REPORTED 30 CONTRACTORS APPLIED FOR LICENSES, 39 BUILDING PERMITS, 11 ELECTRICAL PERMITS, 1 SIGN PERMIT, 1 DUMPSTER PERMIT, 1 FIRE PERMIT AND NO POD PERMITS WERE APPLIED FOR A TOTAL OF 53 PERMITS. SHE ANNOUNCED 8 PROPERTY CLOSINGS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, 3 NEW BUSINESS APPLIED FOR OCCUPANCY AND 2 NEW BUSINESS WERE ISSUED AN OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE 

6. HUMAN RESOURCES, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMITTEE (Mr. Hagerstrom, Chair) 

1. MR. HAGERSTROM ANNOUNCED THE FIRST BLOOD DRIVE OF THE YEAR WILL BE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 01, 2024 FROM 3PM TO 7PM AT THE COMMUNITY ROOM. THE NUMBER OF DONORS HAS DECREASED AND THE BLOOD BANK IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE DONORS. REMEMBER ONE PINT OF BLOOD CAN SAVE 3 LIVES 

VII. STAFF REPORTS AND COMMENTS: DISCUSSION ON AGENDA ITEMS 

1. VILLAGE COMPTROLLER DAVID GONZALEZ BRIEFLY WENT OVER THE NOVEMBER 2023 FINANCIAL REPORT 

VIII. CONSENT AGENDA 

(Items on the Consent Agenda will be enacted or approved by a single motion or omnibus vote. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless so requested by a member of the Village Board, in which case that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in the normal sequence of the Agenda.) 

1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM: 

(a) THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD ON TUESDAY JANUARY 16, 2024 

2. APPROVAL OF VOUCHER EXPENDITURES LIST IN THE AMOUNT OF: $3,127,364.45 

3. ORDINANCE NO. 2324 R 

A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A CLASS 6B REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENT APPLICATION BY THE CUBES AT ORD, LLC FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OF AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY LOCATED AT 3901 FLEETWOOD DRIVE, VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 

4. ORDINANCE NO. 2324 G 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE ILLINOIS STATE TOLL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY TO ENHANCE EMERGENCY SERVICE COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT 

5. ORDINANCE NO. 2324 G 

AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS AND THE VILLAGE OF STONE PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS FOR THE USE OF THE FRANKLIN PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRING RANGE FACILITIES 

6. MOTION TO APPROVE SAINT GERTRUDE PARISH'S REQUEST TO HOLD THEIR ANNUAL LIVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS STREET PROCESSION ON GUSTAVE STREET, CHESTNUT STREET, ATLANTIC STREET AND SCHILLER BOULEVARD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2024, FROM 2:00 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M. AND REQUEST FOR A POLICE ESCORT 

Motion made by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Ms. Avitia to approve the Consent Agenda Roll 

Call: Ayes - Mr. Hagerstrom, Mr. Ybarra, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Ruhl, Ms. Special, and Ms., Avitia 

Nay 0. Absent - 0 Abstain - 0. 

IX. NEW BUSINESS 

RESOLUTION NO. 2324 R 

A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS HONORING JOHN SCHNEIDER 

Mayor Pedersen read out the following: 

"It is with deepest regret that the Village of Franklin Park announces the passing of John Schneider, its longtime Director of Community Development and Zoning. 

"John leaves an unmatched legacy of achievement in the arena of economic development, resulting in new businesses, developments, and investments that have greatly benefited our Village," stated Mayor Barrett Pedersen. "John used his vast business and government experience to help make Franklin Park into a vibrant manufacturing center, with growing commercial enterprises as well. Most importantly, John's amazing network of county, state, and regional governmental contacts helped to secure millions of dollars to fund critical transportation, infrastructure, and sustainability projects in Franklin Park." 

John joined the Village in 2012 and quickly developed an aggressive economic development effort that has resulted in Franklin Park receiving $8170.5 million in grant funding for development projects and infrastructure improvements. John also worked closely with the members of the Village's Economic Development Commission, Plan Commission, Tree Preservation Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals. 

Village Trustee Karen Special collaborated closely with John and his staff. "John accumulated an impressive number of accomplishments during his tenure with the Village," said Special. "Among the most noteworthy are the development of a strategic plan for growth for Franklin Park, a new zoning code, revitalizing our industrial and commercial corridors, and helping to provide 3.6 million gallons of new stormwater storage to prevent flooding." 

John's efforts helped to reestablish Franklin Park as an industrial powerhouse, attracting numerous new developments including warehouses constructed by Bridge, Panattoni, Exeter, CenterPoint, and Molto in the eastern and western industrial districts," said Pedersen. "He assisted local business to expand, attracted prominent corporations, and helped to redevelop the former Motorola site on Grand Avenue which now is home to the Digital Realty Campus, a thriving data complex that continues to expand." 

John loved to collaborate with Village staff to bring projects to fruition. He especially enjoyed mentoring young people and helping them to reach their career potential. Members of his staff learned quickly that John believed it was important to get out of the office and into the community to identify opportunities for future development and to talk to business operators to better understand their obstacles to growth. 

"Every morning our staff would meet to discuss progress on Village projects over coffee,” said Nicholas Walny, the Village's Deputy Director of Community Development. "He had an enormous wealth of knowledge and loved to share his stories from his years working with the City of Chicago and Cook County planning and development offices. But John was also a great listener and he genuinely wanted to learn about our family lives and career aspirations too. Mornings will not be the same without him." 

"John's vision, influence, humor, and steady leadership will be sorely missed," added Mayor Pedersen. "We will all miss working with him. With this being the holiday season, it is an especially tough time to lose a friend. I extend my deepest condolences to John's family, friends, and colleagues. 

Motion made by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Hagerstrom to approve A Resolution of the Village of Franklin Park, Cook County, Illinois honoring John Schneider 

Roll Call: Ayes - Mr. Hagerstrom, Mr. Ybarra, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Ruhl, Ms. Special, and Ms., Avitia Nay-0. Absent - 0 Abstain - 0. 

X. COMMENTS FROM THE CLERK: 

None 

XI. COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT: 

NONE 

XII. CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION 

Mayor Pedersen stated there is a need for Pending Litigation, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11), and Probable or Imminent Litigation, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) 

Motion made by Mr. Ybarra, seconded by Mr. Johnson to go into Executive Session at 7:53 p.m. for "Pending Litigation, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11), and Probable or Imminent Litigation, 5 ILC 120/2(c)(11)” 

Roll Call: Ayes -Mr. Hagerstrom, Mr. Ruhl, Ms. Special, Mr. Ybarra, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Avitia. Nay-0. Absent - 0. Abstain - 0 

RETURNED FROM CLOSED SESSION AT 8:07 P.M. 

Village Clerk, April Arellano, stated to let the record reflect that all members returned. No action was taken in Closed Session 

2024 MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS - PAGE 6 

XIII. ADJOURNMENT 

Motion made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Hagerstrom to adjourn at 8:32 pm. Voice vote carried. 

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